The Great British Brexit: The Aftermath

It has been less than two months since the unprecedented outcome of the UK referendum on its continued membership of the European Union was announced. However, there are already an array of signs that a ‘hard-Brexit’ will inevitably lead to years of hardship in the UK. It was hardly a surprise that the loudest advocates of voting to leave, including the likes of Boris Johnson and Michael Gove, quickly back-tracked on their outrageous promises.

There was also Gove’s claim that the people of Britain have had enough of experts, while also claiming he wasn’t interested in becoming Prime Minster. Unsurprisingly the latter turned out to be nothing other than a lie and he promptly put his hat in the ring, while stabbing his crony, Boris Johnson in the back.

However, we luckily saw both men lose out on the job of Prime Minster, with right-leaning Teresa May taking the reins. There was time for one final twist though, her decision to make Boris Johnson Foreign Secretary was met with a mixture of horror and amusement.

Despite the attempts of the Eurosceptic press, such as the Express and Daily Mail to try and construct and present a narrative that ‘Brexit Britain’ is booming, the views of the more balanced individuals are much more doom-laden. 

Britain is currently at least two years away from actually leaving the European Union, and there are already clear signs that the British economy is starting to slow down. It was reported that in July there were slowdowns in manufacturing, services and construction. There are fears that the economy will quickly decelerate over the course of the next six months, which will be sure to cause ramifications amongst the consumer-driven British public.

However, perhaps the most concerning outcome of the referendum will be the damage that it will inevitably cause to the NHS. The NHS has long relied on migrants from the EU and around the World to ensure that the British people continue to enjoy one of the greatest health institutions on the planet. 

Regardless of one’s side in the campaign, it is hard to deny that there has been an increase in racism and xenophobia in the country. Sadly, since the result of the referendum was announced, several friends of mine from other European countries, who work in the NHS, have spoken of their desire to move away from Britain. 

Personally, I am not surprised. 

Why would these individuals wish to stay here following the xenophobia that has been launched in their direction over the last 6 months? The tactic of divide and rule that served the British Empire so well has once again been utilised, rather than looking to blame the government for years of austerity and cuts to public spending, the blame has been shifted to those who so happen to be here from another country.

It is expected that by 2020, the NHS is expected to face a shortage of around 16,000 primary care physicians, and a shortage of around 100,000 nurses by 2022. Those who would have previously come to work in the UK may well be put off by the uncertainty and the bureaucracy involved in applying for a work permit. It also goes without saying that the recent increase in openly racist language and attitudes will also most likely put people off.

However, it is only a staff-shortage that is going to affect the NHS. We are also going to see the UK’s access to a range of EU funding that supports research, development and innovation effectively cut off, ensuring that the NHS is not at the forefront of exciting and innovative discoveries.

It has been reported that potentially life-saving cancer research will be hindered due to the fact that British scientists have long been beneficiaries of research grants from the EU. This means that the research into cancers such as lymphoma and myeloma may well be stripped back, leading to other EU countries benefitting from the exodus of scientists from the UK that will inevitably happen.

If all of the above wasn’t enough to evoke feelings of worry, then the fact that once out of the EU the government will no longer be required to comply with employment rights legislation. Following on from the Clean for the Queen campaign, it would not come as a surprise to many for a narrative put forward that requires us all to work ourselves into the ground to ‘make Britain great again’.

At the moment those of us living in the UK will be gripped by a continuing sense of uncertainty and the very real prospect of a decline in living standards. However, there is one aspect that we can be certain of, the UK will be sacrificing a prominent place in the World and the respect that this brings.